Royal salute for Torbay duo

Two leading figures in the Bay's emergency services have been recognised in the New Year's Honours List.

Brixham lifeboat stalwart Ian 'Barney' Barnaby has been awarded a British Empire Medal and Torquay fire station's John Monaghan an MBE.

They are among 22 people from all walks of life across Devon to be honoured, which also includes a knighthood for Wetherspoon pub empire founder Tim Martin, who lives near Exeter.

Ian Barnaby's honour was celebrated on the Torbay RNLI's Facebook page. It says 'Barney,  a volunteer crew member at Torbay RNLI, who has dedicated over 20 years to the RNLI and has been instrumental in raising over £100,000 for his local station, has been recognised in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours for his role in helping the charity save lives at sea.'

He started as one of the first helms when the RNLI established a lifeboat service on the River Thames in 2002. He moved to Devon in 2013 and went on to join the volunteer crew based in Brixham in 2014.
Barney is a volunteer crew and navigator for Torbay RNLI and to date has attended 471 shouts, aiding 234 people and saving 14 lives/

But it is his contribution to the wider RNLI and Brixham community where he has left the greatest mark, says the RNLI.
Barney was the driving force behind the Kilimanjaro Challenge, a series of six challenges between May 2022 and February 2023, with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Torbay RNLI.

Engaging with the local community and businesses, Barney led the team, not only to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in February, but to raising a total of £105,000, which will help fund and equip a new D class lifeboat for Torbay RNLI.
The fundraiser was a last hurrah before the oldest crew members retire over the next few years and included skydiving, endurance swimming, cycling, rowing, driving, and climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The entire Torbay lifeboat crew took part in different feats that pushed them outside their comfort zone, culminating in February 2023 with eight crew reaching the summit of the world’ highest freestanding mountain.
The RNLI says Barney was the heartbeat throughout this epic series – without his time, endless enthusiasm, and drive, it would not have happened.

Since the climb, Barney and the team have held a number of talks in the local community to share an insight into their experiences, as well as an event to thank their key sponsors.
His efforts extend beyond the RNLI. In 2019, he persuaded the entire Torbay crew to join a running relay to aid Prostate Cancer UK in memory of a fellow crewmember, raising £15,000. And in March 2022, he selflessly instigated a move to assist those in need, encouraging five Torbay RNLI crew members to join him on a trip to Chervonohrad in Ukraine. Over a weekend, they travelled a round trip of 3,000 miles to deliver medicines, clothing, and food. He is also currently a volunteer coach at Galmpton United Football Club.
The Torbay RNLI says: "Barney’s energy and input has vastly improved the fabric of lifeboat family life in Brixham. His motivation, leadership and organisation skills are outstanding as he strives to create a more inclusive environment. Epitomising the RNLI’s values throughout, he is truly deserving of national recognition as he approaches his retirement from operational duty in 2025."

Barney said: "It was a complete shock to receive the letter saying that I was going to receive an honour.
"None of us do what we do to receive recognition. However, I obviously feel very proud for myself and my family, but also for everyone at RNLI Torbay, we are incredibly close-knit and have achieved great things as a team.
"My 21 years as crew, both at Tower and Torbay, has been immensely rewarding and I feel privileged to be part of such a fabulous organisation."
In total five RNLI volunteers with 189 years of service between them, and an RNLI staff member and former volunteer, are among those who have been recognised by His Majesty The King for their incredible contribution to the charity as it approaches its 200th anniversary on 4 March.
RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie said: "It is wonderful to see these six individuals recognised as we commence the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, each representing different roles across the charity which all make a significant contribution to saving lives at sea.
"It is particularly poignant to see recognition for our longest standing seagoing crewmember in the Isle of Man, which is where our founder Sir William Hillary came from.
"It is our people who make the RNLI one of the UK and Ireland’s most treasured institutions. All six recipients will be too humble to claim this recognition in their own right. For them it is all about the teams they volunteer and work with and the wider RNLI family which I am honoured to be part of. My congratulations to them all in this extra special year in the RNLI’s lifesaving history."

Torquay fire station manager John Monaghan has received an MBE for diplomatic service for services to emergency and disaster response and local communities in Nepal. Devon Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has been supporting colleagues in Nepal for more than 10 years.

The relationship started when John, based in South Devon Group Support, made a chance passing visit to Kathmandu Fire Station in 2009. He saw firefighters using antiquated fire appliances and equipment and responding to fire calls in T-shirts and flip-flops. On his return to the UK, John started collecting personal protective equipment (PPE) that had reached the end of its life to donate to Nepal.

 Since then, with the assistance of British Gurkhas, John and his colleagues have continued to provide vehicles, PPE, equipment and training. They have also provided support to the wider community, particularly after the devastating earthquake in 2015 and monsoon flooding.

Another South Devon recipient was Robert Illman, who is awarded a BEM for services to mountain rescue in Dartmoor. In 2022, Robert was awarded a certificate for 40 years of service to the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (Ashburton). His dedication  has also seen him land a hat-trick of Queens’ jubilee service medals – gold, diamond and platinum.

He joined the team in 1982 and during his time has been team leader (search manager) role for 17 years and was instrumental in planning searches for missing and lost persons and directing rescues. He continues to volunteer his time.

Met Office chief executive Penelope Endersby has received a CBE for services to meteorology, defence science and technology. She was the first woman to be appointed to the role in 2018 and is a researcher specialising in armour and explosives.

 Tim Martin received his knighthood for his services to hospitality and culture. Living near Exeter with his wife and four children, he bought his first pub back in 1979.

Tim, also a leading Brexiteer, was quoted as saying: "Above all, Wetherspoon’s success has been due to a team effort over 44 years. Very many thanks indeed to the customers, colleagues, suppliers, designers, contractors and others, present and departed, who have contributed to this honour."

The full list of Devon recipients:

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

Timothy Randall Martin. Founder and Chair, Wetherspoons. For services to Hospitality and to Culture. (Devon)

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Catherine Jane Uttley Dovey. Co-Founder, Beacon Collaborative and Director, Rosa Fund. For services to Philanthropy, to Women and Girls, to the Arts and to the Economy. ( Tiverton, Devon)

Professor Penelope Clare Endersby FREng. Chief Executive Officer, Met Office. For services to Meteorology, to Defence Science and to Technology. ( Newton Abbot, Devon)

John Mark Yallop. Lately Chair, Financial Markets Standards Board. For services to the Financial Sector and to Charity. ( Totnes, Devon)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Sarah Jane Cressall. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Creation Station. For services to Creativity in Education, Entertainment and Business. ( Exmouth, Devon)

Amy Louise Doncaster. Deputy Director, Strategy and Future Design, Department for Work and Pensions. For Public Service. (Buckfastleigh, Devon)

Colonel (Rtd) Brian Mark Gorski MBE. For services to Museums and to the community in Bury, Greater Manchester. (South Molton, Devon)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Pamela Marguerita Frickleton. Foster Carer, Plymouth City Council. For services to Young People. (Plymouth, Devon)

Peter Thornton Frickleton. Foster Carer, Plymouth City Council. For services to Young People. (Plymouth, Devon)

Dr Leonard Malcolm Lofts. Patron and Lately Chief Executive, Northam Care Trust. For services to People with Disabilities in Devon. (Lincoln, Lincolnshire)

Professor Peter Alister Stott. Deputy Head of Climate Science and Science Fellow, Met Office. For services to Climate Science. ( Exeter, Devon)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Ian John Barnaby. Crew and Navigator, Torbay Lifeboat Station, Royal National Lifeboat Institution. For voluntary services to Maritime Safety. ( Brixham, Devon)

ShelleyJane Coleman. For services to the community in Plymouth, Devon. (Plymouth, Devon)

Ann Doreen May Doody. For services to the community in Ilfracombe, Devon. (Ilfracombe, Devon)

Terence Brian Gerry. For services to the community in Plymouth, Devon. (Callington, Cornwall)

Jacqueline Ann Hendra. Social Care Assessor, Devon County Council. For services to People with Disabilities. (Plympton, Devon)

Robert Alan John Illman. For services to Mountain Rescue in Dartmoor, Devon. (South Brent, Devon)

Gwendoline May Kingdon. For services to the community in South Molton, Devon. (South Molton, Devon)

Ian Robert Skinner. For services to the community in Sidmouth and the Sid Valley, Devon. (Sidmouth, Devon)

 
Cheryl Barbara Smith. Leader, Girlguiding Cornwall. For services to Young People. (Plymouth, Devon)

Hayley Marie Watson. For services to the community in Exmouth, Devon, particularly during Covid-19. (Exmouth, Devon)

DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

John Gabriel Monaghan. Station Manager (Rtd), Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service; Founder and Project Manager, Fire Aid Nepal. For services to Emergency and Disaster Response and to local Communities in Nepal. (Devon)